maritime spatial planning in the baltic sea
it starts with chaos
the chaos goes on
and on
how did we do it before?
but what if this was not an option?
what should the tribes do instead?
how would they have sorted it out?
That s how smart leaders sorted it out, back when the problems were comparatively simple and understandable. Nowadays, the number of different uses and their intensity has grown enormously and continues to do so. The good news is that the same methodology applies as much today as it did back then: how should we do it now? MSP must be a high priority issue (in this case, effective governance at a regional level) MSP requires guiding principles (mainly an ecosystem-based approach) MSP needs a participatory approach (all uses must be considered, all user groups must be heard and involved) A zoning approach is essential Today s management of the Baltic Sea does not look so very different. However, today there are more people living around the sea and it has been regarded as a free resource to be used by everybody with few restrictions. This has meant that the Baltic Sea has become too small to meet all the demands for space. On land, we use spatial planning to solve these problems. There are many restrictions on the use of land, which are no longer recognised as limitations because life on land would not be possible without them. When we have a growing need to use the sea for shipping, offshore wind farms, fisheries and nature conservation, we need a similar spatial planning system for managing these uses. The Baltic Sea is a sea shared by many countries, with different languages and different systems of governance. We need a tool to sort out the sometimes conflicting uses Happily, Maritime Spatial Planning offers us this very tool. The Baltic Sea Region can be the first region in the world to implement successful Maritime Spatial Planning based on sound evaluation of uses and suitability of areas for particular uses, integration of users interests and ideas, as well as the need for a healthy ecosystem. In this way, the Baltic Sea can make history by demonstrating how different nations manage joint resources in an ecosystem-based, participatory and coordinated manner. Maritime Spatial Planning is the tool that can help sort out complex challenges on a crowded planet. Maritime Spatial Planning sounds awfully complicated, but in fact it isn t...
some definitions and explanations
what it could look like (1)
what it could look like (2)
what it could look like (3)
now it s your turn... +
Copyright WWF Germany, Frankfurt (2010) All rights reserved. This brochure was produced by WWF in the Framework of the BaltSeaPlan project. Impressum: Text and Idea: Jochen Lamp and Michèle Stoltz, WWF Germany; Karl Wagner Illustration: Erik Liebermann Coordination: Heike Mühldorfer, WWF Germany Layout: Judith Uhlemann, www.uhlemann-design.de Production: Rainer Litty, WWF Print: medialogik, Karlsruhe Printed on recycled paper
The BaltSeaPlan project (2009-2012) is jointly carried out by 14 partners from Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Together they are working towards bringing Maritime Spatial Planning in the Baltic Sea region to reality: involving maritime stakeholders, analysing current and future maritime trends, drawing up pilot maritime spatial plans and trying to infl u- ence national regulations in favour of a wise-proactive integrated sea management, which takes into account the cumulative impacts of the various uses. More information and results of the project can be found under www.baltseaplan.eu Copyright and Trademark by WWF International Printed on 100% recycled paper BaltSeaPlan is part-fi nanced by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013, which promotes regional development through transnational cooperation. This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union (http://europa.eu). The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of WWF and can in no way be taken to refl ect the views of the European Union. WWF is one of the world s largest and most experienced independent conservation organisations, with almost 5 million members and supporters and a global network active in some 100 countries. WWF s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet s natural environment to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world s biological diversity ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. WWF Germany Coastal & Marine Division Baltic Sea Project Offi ce Beghinenhaus Knieperwall 1 D-18439 Stralsund Tel. +49 3831 297018 Fax +49 3831 297599 stralsund@wwf.de www.wwf.de